Page number wrong in Calibre and Bluefire

[jensk35754228]

Hi all,

I am just getting started with Indesign so quite overwhelmed. I am creating a reflowable epub ebook from a pdf.

First, I made a document in the exact page size of the pdf.

Second, I used the script PlaceMultipagePDF.

Third, I exported to a reflowable epub (I had to unclick the "Generate CSS" box in the HTML and CSS section).

The Ebook looks fine in ibooks reader and have the correct page numbers but in Calibre and Bluefire it only have Two pages (should be 40)

Thankful for any help!

[Steve Werner]

Moving to InDesign EPUB forum

[BobLevine]

PDFs placed in InDesign will only export out as graphics. I'm not sure why InDesign is even involved in this process.

That said, if you want help you're going to need to provide more info. What version of InDesign? What operating system? Screenshots of the issue would help, too.

[jensk35754228]

Thanks for the quick answer!

Strange publishing requirements demands that the file is epub2  which is why I use indesign.  There might be an easier way, however, the program I originally used can only create epub3 or pdf files not epub2.

I am using windows 7 and the latest version of Indesign cc. I am not sure what kind of screenshots that would be helpful. Here is one of how it looks in Bluefire (notice the 2 in the bottom right corner):

[BobLevine]

You think that qualifies as a reflowable epub? You're going to be providing an epub that has nothing in it but pictures.

I'm sorry to tell you this but it's going to be virtually worthless. What is your goal here?

Perhaps we can offer up some type of alternative.

[Derek Cross]

As mentioned, your present workflow won’t work, and by the way, you don’t have page numbers in Reflowable epubs because the pages reflow. Looking at your artwork I think you need to start creating the pages again in InDesign using the original illustrations (or extracting them from the PDF), and create a Fixed Layout ePub.

Lynda.com have some excellent online video tutorials on how to create these - you can get a 30-day free trial.

Also have a look at CircularFlo, which is another way of creating FXL epubs from a PDF including formats suitable for Amazon‘s Kindle.

https://www.circularflo.com/

(If you don’t want to monetise these books, InDesign‘s Publish Online facility would be an ideal alternative format.)

[jensk35754228]

Thanks for the answers Derek and Bob. Sorry english is not my own language so I might not be so clear and I do realize that the issue is somewhat confusing.

I am not interested in the reflowable part of the epub my goal is to create the ebook in epub2 not epub3. There might be a better way of doing it using another program but I have not found it (as far as I can tell CircularFlo can only make epub3).

So if I understand you correctly Derek, this is the the way it will look if I use reflowable epub and there is no way around it?

[Derek Cross]

Reflowable epub doesn‘t look to me a suitable format for your illustrated children’s books.

InDesign can only export FXL epubs to ePub 3 and there’s no good reason, as far as I know, to export to ePub 2 for Reflowable text ePub any more.

[BobLevine]

I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to find a better way to distribute this. Again, tell us what your goal is and we can help. Right now all I can tell you is that what you’re doing is a complete waste of time and effort.

[Derek Cross]

I gave the OP quite a full answer, which you may have missed Bob.

[jensk35754228]

Thanks for all your answers. It seems I cannot get any further with this issue.

By reading Derek's and Bob's comments as well as looking on the internet I understand that it is not a good fit to use reflowable epub. However, the good reasons and why it is my goal is simply because epub2 is a requirement if I want to be able to distribute the ebook to all the available vendors in my country.

I really appreciate all the help!

[Derek Cross]

There's nothing to stop you creating a reflowable text ePub in InDesign if you want – you need to anchor the illustrations to the text and use paragraph styles and export it as a reflowable ePub and select version 2, if that's what you have to have. You can use the free IDPF facility to validate the document: EPUB Validator (beta)

[jensk35754228]

Great thanks Derek.

So if I want to anchor the illustration I cannot use the PlaceMultipagePDF for PDF file instead I need to add the illustrations one by one?

[Derek Cross]

You won't be able to have live text on top of the illustration. You would need to incorporate the text as part of the illustration and place the pages as JPGs. I suggest you experiment with a few pages and few them on Adobe Digital Editions and a reader or two.

[jensk35754228]

Great thanks! I will start experimenting

[BobLevine]

I do it all by email, Derek.